Coach, The A. L. Williams Story (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0978626605/ref=ase_thebusinesstartp) by Art Williams (Paperback - Jun 28, 2006)
Buy new: $12.95 Used & new from $10.00
.. Reviewer: Darryl Dick (Cincinnati, Ohio) - "I've read dozens of business biographies. Nothing... and I mean NOTHING comes close to the story of A.L. Williams. I believe Art's story is the greatest "unknown" story in American business history. I say "unknown" because it has been a long time since his name was in the headlines and many younger people may not be familiar with his story."


All You Can Do Is All You Can Do, but All You Can Do Is Enough! (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0840790104/ref=ase_thebusinesstartp) by A. L. Williams (Hardcover - Aug 1988)
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Other Editions: Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, Audio Cassette

Pushing Up People: The Secret Behind One of the Most Exciting Success Stories in American Business (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9996455416/ref=ase_thebusinesstartp) (Paperback) by Art Williams

Common sense: A simple plan for financial independence (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0007206RS/ref=ase_thebusinesstartp) by Art Williams

Having come up against Art's minions many times over the years, I find it hard to have a whole lot of respect for the mans business acumen.

AL Williams part time sales force went about things in a totally unprofessional way. They catered mostly to the underserved and usually less-than-financially-savvy part of the market. Rather than look at each situation holistically, they would portray my kind (full time insurance professionals) as predatory and dishonest. They would dismiss out of hand permanent insurance in favor of their high-cost term product and their heavily loaded mutual funds. Given that these folks were butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers during the day, and this part time endeavor lasted only as long as they had friends and relatives in the lifeline, its understandable that they lacked the requisite skills to truly be learned financial professionals.

What was lost in the entire process, and what is actually unfortunate, was their premise that planning, any planning, is better than no planning. This is certainly true, especially in their target demographic.

Ironically, his company was ultlimately acquired by larger companies. (I believe any remnant are now owned by Citigroup) They became what they claimed to most despise.

Ever heard of Don Quixote, Scott? Tilting at windmills?

You are complaining about their attitude towards your product, and what product doesn't have a competitor to challenge them?

These books - and Art Williams himself - is not about insurance. They - and he - are/is about networking and helping and encouraging people - 'pushing up people,' to use Art's phrase.

Whether you liked his product or not (past tense, because he hasn't been in the insurance business for decades!) he was - and still is, I believe - very successful at encouraging and motivating people and team-building.

That's what these books are about.

Art Williams is awesome, and if I had to name 10 businessmen I MOST admire, he'd be one of them.

That whole life folks STILL squirm at the thought of A.L. Williams brings joy to my heart. That's how full of itself the insurance industry is :thumb:.

If both you gentleman would re-read my post, I was not finding fault with THEM finding fault with whole life, rather the way they went about their business.

When I come up against a competitor, the last thing I would ever do is portray him as predatory or dishonest.

When I come up against a competitors product, I congratulate the client for thier wise decision to make the purchase, and seek to understand if and how that product fits in to their overall picture.

Art and his minions painted with too broad of a brush. They exhibited provincialism and narrow mindedness is their purest forms.

I could give a rats you know what whether someone buys term or perm. What I care about is that they do so with an informed mind, not because they were swayed with "us against them" fire and brimstone.

If both you gentleman would re-read my post, I was not finding fault with THEM finding fault with whole life, rather the way they went about their business.

Art and his minions painted with too broad of a brush. They exhibited provincialism and narrow mindedness is their purest forms.

I could give a rats you know what whether someone buys term or perm. What I care about is that they do so with an informed mind, not because they were swayed with "us against them" fire and brimstone.If you would re-read our posts, we didn't even bring up whole vs. term.

I just think it's interesting that many in the industry looked at them as part-time hacks. "They wear red socks and sandals! And they don't like us!". Boo hoo. They were on a crusade and were passionate. Works for some.

Three cheers for that chubby, bald, redneck, dadgum high school football coach from Georgia that lit it up for a few years.

If you would re-read our posts, we didn't even bring up whole vs. term.

I just think it's interesting that many in the industry looked at them as part-time hacks. "They wear red socks and sandals! And they don't like us!". Boo hoo. They were on a crusade and were passionate. Works for some.

Three cheers for that chubby, bald, redneck, dadgum high school football coach from Georgia that lit it up for a few years.

I brought up the whole vs term topic as it was their battle cry...

Ive never been able to sit silently while bad advice and misinformation was handed out wholesale. Thats probably the curious phenomenon you speak of (how my type gets all worked up at the mere mention)

There is another incarnation of that mindset taking place here in NJ right now. Folks are being told by a cute little lizard that they are paying too much for their auto insurance. What he fails to mention that is he is cheaper for a reason....he is giving them inferior coverage.

Im sure there are guys in RE investing and coaching that make their bones by portraying others in a less than favorable light, or get clients by selectively dispensing info. Its no different in my field.

Im sure there are guys in RE investing and coaching that make their bones by portraying others in a less than favorable light, or get clients by selectively dispensing info. Its no different in my field.Got THAT right!

My best friend in high school pitched me A.L. Williams insurance. I'll never forget it. Typical 'I've got a business idea' for you bullshit. I nearly punched him in the face. That certainly never happened to me with other insurance companies.

That being said, I'd love to read the book, Spider.

...That being said, I'd love to read the book, Spider.Then order it.

If you use the links above, I will earn - what? about 50 cents!

Such riches!!